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VAPING GLOSSARY

VAPING GLOSSARY

Adapter: Used to connect one threading type to a different threading type. Many users enjoy clearomizers with the eGo threading. When a device has a standard 510 connector, an adapter will be used to connect the 510 connector to the eGo clearomizer.

Adjustable Airflow (Airflow Control): A way of controlling the air intake on an atomizer or clearomizer. Adjustable airflow is also becoming available on drip tips as well. Adjustable Airflow is used to help increase the vapor production and also to cool the vapor.

Advanced Personal Vaporizer (APV): An electronic cigarette device that is considered more advanced than others. An APV typically features more advanced features and functions, such as an OLED Screen, Variable Wattage, and an elaborate Menu System, among others.

All Day Vape (ADV): Most describe an ADV as an e-liquid flavor that can be vaped all day continuously, rather than vaping a flavor for a minimal length of time.

American Wire Gauge (AWG): The standard used in the United States to determine the resistance and diameter of electric wire used to create the coils in atomizers.

Amperage (Amps): Amperage is the flow of energy along a circuit. With Advanced Personal Vaporizers, the lower the amps, the less capable you are of using higher voltages on low resistance atomizers. This is prevalent in high voltage upon low resistance atomizers.

Analog: A term commonly used in the world of vaping to describe a “traditional” tobacco cigarette.

Atomizer (Atty): One of the most important parts of an electronic cigarette. The atomizer is the part that vaporizes the e-liquid. An atomizer typically consists of an outer body, then a wrapped on the inside. One end of the coil will be attached to a negative side, while the other end leads to the positive side to complete a circuit. When power is applied to the atomizer, the coil will heat, thus vaporizing the e-liquid. The atomizers job is to produce the vapor.

Automatic (AT): A style of electronic cigarette/vaporizer battery that does not have a button to activate the heating element. They are unsealed, which allows airflow. When the user draws on the mouthpiece, a special sensor within the atomizer is activated by changing air pressure.

Battery: The battery is the most essential part to the electronic cigarette process. The battery used with a device can be internally charged or externally charged. Though the battery can come in all shapes, sizes and colors, it is used for one specific reason, which is to provide power to the coil, which will then heat up and vaporize the e-liquid.

Battery Venting: The process where a battery is pushed passed its limits specified and gas is released from the battery.

Box Mod: A device that is in the shape of a box. A box mod is a more advanced device in a box shaped device, which allows for more room to insert a larger battery and other components.

Carcinogen: Any chemical, compound, or substance thought to cause cancer. When e-liquid is heated and reaches high temperatures can produce some carcinogens.

Cartomizer (Carto): A type of atomizer that was designed as a small metal tube, which contained a filler material towards the top that acted as a wick. The wick would hold more e-liquid than a standard atomizer. The cartomizer is no longer being used with products currently on the market.

Charger: A device used to charge batteries once they have been depleted.

Cig-A-Like (E-Pen, Stick eCig): An electronic cigarette device that looks similar to a traditional tobacco cigarette.

Clearomizer (Clearo): An atomizer that is designed around a clear tank. The clearomizer is made with different materials and utilizes replacement coils offered in various resistances. The clearomizer became highly popular due to its ability to store e-liquid, eliminating the need to drip.

Coil (Burner): Wire wrapped up into a coil. The coil, when attached to a positive and negative post, heats up and vaporizes the e-liquid. Clearomizers have coils, but has a body around them. With a Rebuildable Atomizer, the user builds the coil and inserts it into the posts, the coil being exposed inside of the atomizer.

Competition Cap: A mouthpiece typically designed to allow more airflow and its ultimate goal of helping increase vapor production.

Deck: The bottom of the atomizer where the positive and negative posts sit.

Diacetyl: A flavoring used in some e-liquid production for its buttery taste. It can cause Bronchiolitis obliterans (AKA Popcorn Lung) if inhaled in large concentrations. There have been many e-liquid manufacturers that have stopped using flavors that contain Diacetyl.

Direct Dripping: The act of directly dripping onto a coil.

Disposable Ecig: An electronic cigarette device that was designed to be disposed of when either the battery is depleted or the e-liquid has ran out.

DNA: Typically referencing a computer chip manufactured by Evolvapor. The manufacturer has become highly known for its DNA Boards, all which has introduced new technology to the electronic cigarette industry.

Do It Yourself (DIY): The term typically used when a user mixes e-liquid themselves.

Drip: The act of dripping e-liquid.

Drip Cap (Drip Top, Chuff Cap): A larger than normal mouthpiece. The Drip Cap not only provides a better airflow, but also allows the user to drip without having to remove the mouthpiece/cap.

Drip Tip: The mouthpiece used on an atomizer or clearomizer.

Drip Well: The surface area on the base of an atomizer. The drip well is used so that if more than enough e-liquid is dripped, the excess e-liquid will sit into the Drip Well, eliminating any leakage from the atomizer.

Dry Burn: The act of applying power to a coil without the use of e-liquid. This term is commonly used when testing a temperature controlled device to ensure that it’s regulating the temperature properly.

Dry Hit: When a user inhales from a device, but no e-liquid is present. Instead of the coils producing vapor, since there is no e-liquid, it burns the cotton, which results in a harsh, very dry and uncomfortable hit.

Dual Coil Tank (DCT): A tank that utilizes a cartomizer, which has two coils.

eGo Connector: A connector that originated on a device known as the “eGo”. The eGo device became so popular that manufacturers began creating clearomizers and other products to connect specifically to the eGo connector. The eGo connector became commonly offered even on devices that didn’t carry the eGo name or branding, but has recently manufacturers have switched to offering the connector with devices, rather than making them a primary connector.

eGo Threading: The eGo connector uses the 510 threading on the inside to accept 510 connectors, but also has a certain “eGo” threading on the outside of the connector to accept eGo threaded connectors.

Electronic Cigarette (E-Cig, E-Cigarette, eCig, eCigarette): A device that was invented to allow users to receive nicotine through an inhaled vapor. The electronic cigarette was also used as a harm reduction tool since it has minimal ingredients. The electronic cigarette can carry different appearances, shapes and sizes.

Exhale: To blow out vapor through the mouth.

Flooding: When too much e-liquid is on the coil and doesn’t allow the coil to breathe. When there is too much e-liquid on the coil, it is essentially flooded.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): An administrative branch of the United States government that oversees rules and regulations pertaining to the safety of food and drug products sold in the USA.

Formaldehyde: Can be produced much like acrolein; when e-liquid is heating to extremely high temperature. Formaldehyde is also a known human carcinogen. As a result, temperature controlled mods have become very popular.

Heatsink: Fins or protrusions on a mod, atomizer, or drip tip. The heatsink is designed to dissipate heat by allowing more airflow over more surface area.

High Resistance (HR): A resistance higher than an average or commonly seen resistance level. A high resistance is 3.0 ohm or higher.

High VG E-Liquid: An e-liquid that has a higher percentage of Vegetable Glycerin. High VG e-liquid is commonly used with sub-ohm clearomizers and rebuildable atomizers. The Vegetable Glycerin ingredient is known to help create a larger vapor production.

Hybrid: The combination of the top portion of a vaporizer, such as a rebuildable atomizer, and a device, designed to fit together as one seamless unit. The top and the bottom are one whole unit.

Inhale: To pull in vapor through the mouth.

Joules: A unit of power used in temperature controlled mods. It is equal to the energy transferred (or work done) when applying a force of one newton through a distance of one metre (1 newton metre or N. m), or in passing an electric current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm for one second.

Juice Hole: The hole cut out and covered with a wicking material on a replacement coil or rebuildable tank atomizer. The juice hole is to allow e-liquid to be soaked up by a wicking material, then delivered to the coil to be vaporized.

Kanthal Wire: A wire that is the trademark for a family of iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloys used in a wide range of resistance and high-temperature applications. Kanthal A1 Wire is a specific grade of Kanthal wire, most commonly used with coils.

Low Resistance (LR): A resistance that is lower than the standard. Typically, 1.5 ohm or lower is considered low resistance.

Lung Hit: The act of inhaling vapor directly into the lungs, bypassing the mouth. Users commonly lower nicotine strength when lung hitting to reduce throat hit, since the nicotine provides a harsh hit.

Manual: A device that is manually activated. The user must press a fire button or activate the device’s battery manually.

Mechanical Mod: A device that has no wiring, nor circuit boards for operation. The Mechanical Mod runs strictly off of the battery completing a circuit with the atomizer.

Milliampere Hour (mAh): Used to describe the capacity or energy charge that a battery will hold before it needs to be recharged. It is typically referred to its abbreviation, mAh.

Milligrams (MG): The unit of measure for how much nicotine is in a cartridge. Common MG strengths include 0MG, 3MG, 6MG, 12MG, 18MG and 24MG.

Milliliters (mL): The amount of liquid in a given container. Used to describe how much e-liquid is in a bottle.

Mini: A smaller than average e-cigarette or device.

MOD: A device that has been designed to be more than your standard electronic cigarette. A mod will usually offer a much larger battery, an increase in size and offers a greater performance.

Modder: Someone who modifies electronic cigarettes or vaping devices from their original versions. Modders typically “mod” to increase the performance of the device.

Mouth Hit: To inhale vapor into the mouth first, then continuing by pulling the vapor further to reach the lungs.

Newbie (Newb, Noob): A term used to describe a new vaper or someone just introduced to electronic cigarettes and vaping.

Nichrome Wire (NiCr, Nickel-Chrome, Chrome-Nickel): A resistance wire made from Nickel, Chromium, and (often) Iron. It has a common ratio of 80% Nickel to 20% Chromium. Nichrome was once considered the most used wire type with coils made for electronic cigarettes and vaping devices.

Nickel Wire (Ni200, Nickel 200): Nickel wire is commercially pure, has good mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance. Moreover, it also has good electrical and thermal properties, as well as being non-magnetic. Nickel is a resistance wire, therefore, it is used with temperature controlled devices.

Nicotine (Nic): An alkaloid found in tobacco and other plants of the nightshade family. It is available in various strengths, but also optional as some e-liquid have the option of no nicotine.

Nicotine Strength (Nicotine Level, Nicotine Dose, Nic Strength): The amount of nicotine per milliliter. The strength is calculated in a percentage, but is referred to most without a percentage symbol or a decimal to separate numbers. (2.4% = 24MG)

No-Resistance Wire (Non-Resistance Wire, NR-Wire): A conductive wire that is used in rebuildable atomizers to complete a circuit to the atomizer coil. No-Resistance Wire doesn’t heat up. Some use No-Resistance Wire with atomizers to ensure heat is applied where the user wants.

OLED: A light-emitting diode containing thin flexible sheets of an organic electroluminescent material, used for visual displays. OLED screens are commonly used on advanced personal vaporizers and mods of all types.

Organic Cotton (OC): Grown in subtropical countries such as Turkey, China and USA from non genetically modified plants. The plants are grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. Many feel that Organic Cotton provides a much cleaner and purer taste when used as a wicking material.

Organic Cotton Coil (OCC): A replacement coil that uses organic cotton. Kanger was the first manufacturer to introduce the Organic Cotton Coil.

Notch Coil: A coil that combines the surface area of a Clapton coil with the ramp up time of an OCC coil. This coil is made of Stainless Steel, allowing for the use of temperature control. Notch coils provide optimum flavor with easy plug and play use.

Parallel Mod: A device that has batteries that are wired parallel to one another. By doing this, it increases the battery life at the cost of voltage.

Passthrough (PT): A device that plugs directly into the USB port of a computer or charge and allows the user to vape without having to worry about battery life.

Personal Charging Case (PCC): A common acronym for Personal (or portable) Charging Case. This allows an electronic cigarette battery to be stored in and charged from the PCC battery while away from other power sources.

Personal Vaporizer (PV): A device that turns e-liquid into vapor. A personal vaporizer is also another term used for electronic cigarette, as well as portable vaporizer.

Posts: The positive and negative inside of an atomizer that allows a coil to complete an electrical circuit.

Priming: To soak the wicking inside of a coil to ensure that it has an ample amount of e-liquid to vaporize in order to prevent a dry hit.

Propylene Glycol (PG): Used as a base carrier for the nicotine and flavoring. Propylene Glycol has been deemed generally safe to be used in medical products as as food products for general consumption. There have been some people that have reported having an allergic reaction to PG. These people also find that they have issues with certain brands of toothpaste, lotions, soaps and medicines containing the PG ingredient. PG consists of a more thinned liquid consistency, so it’s also used to thin out e-liquid so that it will wick much easier in tanks.

Protected Battery: A battery that has a computer chip that protects the battery and breaks the circuit in the battery from completing if the voltage goes too high or too low, the current goes too high or the cell temperature rises too high.

Puff (Pull, Draw): To inhale from from an electronic cigarette.

Rebuildable Atomizer: An atomizer was originally designed to reduce the cost of vaping and increase performance by means of letting the user fix/rebuild the atomizer themselves. Rebuildable atomizers vary in design, shape and overall appearance. Some rebuildable atomizers use various types of wicking systems, as well as having the ability to work with multiple wire types, such as Kanthal, Nichrome, Nickel and Titanium.

Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer (RDA, Dripping Atomizer, Dripper, Dripping Atty): An atomizer that is rebuildable/fixable. The RDA consists of a body, the inside has a positive and negative post. The user can build a coil, leaving it exposed inside of the atomizer. E-Liquid is dripped onto the coil, rather than relying on a tank. The term was made because the user actually drips into the atomizer.

Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (RTA, Rebuildable Tank, Tank Atomizer, Tank Atty): An atomizer that is rebuildable/fixable. The RTA consists of a body and tank portion. The inside has a tube that connect to the coil’s housing to the top of the tank and to the drip tip. E-Liquid is stored in the tank, rather than continuously having to drip.

Resistance: The measurement of ohms that allows you to calculate the right amount of voltage to apply to get the best wattage necessary. It comes in two common different variations; low and standard.

Ribbon Wire (Ribbon Kanthal, Ribbon): A unique type of resistance wire that is used for building coils. Ribbon Wire was more commonly used with top-coil rebuildable tank atomizers. Ribbon Wire has a flat cross section, rather than it being round, such as traditional wire.

Standard Resistance: Typically used as a term to describe between a 2.5 ohm resistance. Anything higher is considered high resistance.

Starter Kit: An electronic cigarette kit that offers more than just the device itself. Typically, a starter kit will offer the actual device and some form of atomizer.

Steeping: The act of letting e-liquid sit for a period of time. By letting the e-liquid sit, it allows the ingredients in the e-liquid to process and fuse together. Some mixologists will mix e-liquid and let it go through the process in order to achieve an intended flavor.

Sub-Ohm: The practice by experienced vapers to increase the current from your specific battery and by using the principles of Ohms Law, reducing the ohms of the coils below one to achieve a large vapor production. Sub-Ohm is considered 0.9 ohm and below.

Tank: A container that is used to store e-liquid. Tanks are used with rebuildable tank atomizers and clearomziers.

Temperature Control (TC): To control the true temperature produced by a coil. The technology was first introduced by Evolv in its temperature sensing DNA40 board.

Thermal Runaway: A very rare, but serious occurrence. Thermal Runaway is a chain reaction that results in the fire and bursting of a rechargeable lithium based battery. This happens from a couple different possibilities: overcharging, short circuiting, stacking batteries, physical damage to the battery and other malfunctions with a device.

Throat Hit (TH): The feeling received in the back of the throat hit when inhaling vapor. The term stems from the harshness felt. Propylene Glycol and Nicotine are both ingredients that are known to cause the throat hit. The more nicotine in the e-liquid, the more throat hit felt.

Titanium Wire (Ti, Ti Wire): An alternative to Nichrome, Nickel and Kanthal Wires. Titanium Wire is a resistance wire, has a soft consistency, and typically much harder to work with than Kanthal Wire. Titanium Wire is becoming more commonly used with temperature controlled devices.

Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR): The practice of reducing harm created by nicotine-containing products.

Topping Off: To completely fill an e-liquid tank.

Tube Mod: A device that carries a form factor of a tube shape. The device is tube shaped so that it can hold a battery, which carries the same shape, in its lower compartment.

Unprotected Battery: Any lithium based battery that has no protection for the overcharging or other situations that can cause thermal runaway.

Vape (Vaping): Describes the act of using an electronic cigarette. A tobacco cigarette user is considered as someone who will “smoke” since the tobacco produces smoke. An electronic cigarette user is considered as someone who will “vape” since the electronic cigarette produces vapor.

Vaper: Someone who vapes using an electronic cigarette. A smoker is someone who smokes. A vaper is someone who vapes.

Vapers Tounge: A common problem among many vapers when they vape too much of one flavor, and their taste buds become desensitized to the flavor.

Vapor: The atomization of e-liquid, which results in a fog. It is commonly accepted to be exhaled as water vapor (steam). This is the main visible factor in vaping that simulates the act of smoking, but in a much safer form.

Vapor Production: The act of producing vapor. An increase vapor production is the most sought out perk to vaping. It is known that a higher percentage of Vegetable Glycerin, a high voltage/wattage, a lower resistance, and an increase in airflow will help produce more vapor.

Vaporizer: Turns e-liquid into a vapor. Vaporizer is another term used for an electronic cigarette

Variable Voltage (VV): Any personal vaporizer or advanced personal vaporizer mod that allows the user control over the voltage output of a device. Generally recognized as superior to regular personal vaporizers that have a static voltage output that cannot be changed.

Variable Wattage (VW): Any personal vaporizer or advanced personal vaporizer mod that allows the user control over the wattage output of a device across the atomizer coil. This differentiates itself from a Variable Voltage device because the voltage is calculated to arrive at the set wattage.

Vegetable Glycerin (VG): An alternative to Propylene Glycol, and is often used as the majority base in e-liquid. Vegetable Glycerin comes from the production of palm or coconut oils and is suitable to be used in sweeteners and in skin care products.

Ventilation Holes (Vent Holes): Special holes made in the casing of a device, to vent battery gases away from the face in case of a battery explosion.

Voltage: The amount of kinetic energy, which for our purposes, when paired with resistance creates wattage.

Wattage: The amount of raw heat that the atomizer coil uses to vaporize e-liquid.

Wick: Used to deliver e-liquid to the coil in electronic cigarettes. Many atomizers used a wick that is made from silica cord, steel mesh and cotton. Ceramic materials have also been known to be used as well.

Wrap: One revolution of a wire during the process of building a coil.

If there is a term or ‘lingo’ that we is not listed, please feel free to contact us and ask for it to be added. This source is a combination of mulitple glossaries and as vaping becomes more popular, terms are every changing.